Tragic Birthday Celebration Ends in Senseless Violence: Food Truck Cook Murdered by Demanding Diners

In a shocking turn of events, a food truck cook celebrating his birthday in Washington Heights was fatally stabbed by a group of men who demanded he pay for their meals. The tragic incident has left the victim's grieving girlfriend and family grasping for answers, as the NYPD works to apprehend the suspects responsible for this senseless act of violence.

Heartbreak and Unanswered Questions Linger After Brutal Attack

Confrontation Escalates into Deadly Altercation

The incident occurred on July 2nd, during a belated birthday celebration for the victim's girlfriend, Maria Moyotl Capulin, at a local Mexican eatery called Taco Inn. According to Capulin, a group of men began harassing her boyfriend, Mateo Solis, 20, and demanding that he pay for their food. Solis, who worked as a cook in the family-owned taco truck, Tacos Moy, refused their demands, sparking a confrontation that would ultimately turn deadly.Capulin, speaking through Mateo's brother, Javier Solis, 39, recounted the harrowing events. "They tried to intimidate Mateo to make him pay for their food," she said. The men, who were reportedly regular customers at Taco Inn, continued to press Solis, even following the group outside the restaurant and demanding he pay for their drinks as well. Solis again refused, and the situation quickly escalated.

A Tragic Ending and Unanswered Questions

As the two parties left the restaurant around 2:15 a.m., the men called out to Solis and, according to Capulin, "laughingly asked to talk, getting very close to him." In the ensuing scuffle, Capulin believes the man in the black shirt, seen in a photo released by the NYPD, stabbed Solis in the back. Solis briefly chased after the men before collapsing, and was rushed to Harlem Hospital Center in stable condition. Tragically, his condition worsened, and he was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. that day.The motive behind the men's demands and the subsequent attack remains unclear. Police have described the incident as a "dispute," but Capulin and Solis' family are left grasping for answers. "We need whoever killed Mateo caught," Javier Solis said through tears, as the family continues to mourn the loss of their loved one.

A Devastating Impact on the Family

The tragedy has had a profound impact on Mateo Solis' family, particularly his girlfriend, Maria Moyotl Capulin, and their two young children, a boy and a girl, aged 2 and 4 respectively. Capulin, who had plans to marry Solis, has not yet told their children that their father has passed away. The children currently live with their grandmother in Puebla, Mexico, and the family is seeking the help of a child psychologist to assist in breaking the devastating news.Capulin's focus now is on completing the construction of a house in Mexico, where she can live with her children and continue the life she had envisioned with Solis. "I will continue with the plan," she said. "The plan is to finish building a house for my kids in Mexico so I can stay together with my kids."The loss of Mateo Solis has left a deep void in the lives of his loved ones, who are now grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence. As the NYPD continues its investigation, the community rallies to support the family and seek justice for the young food truck cook whose life was tragically cut short.